Selective schools advised to delay admission tests

The Department for Education is strongly advising that tests for grammar and partially selective schools are moved back into late October, or November if possible, saying that no child is likely to perform to their utmost ability in a test at the beginning of September and all are likely to benefit from as much time back in education as possible before being assessed.

This is likely to mean parents that will need to express preferences for school places before results are known.

The guidance states parents should be asked to use their final preference for a local non-selective school if tests results will not be known before October 31.

Councils in selective areas have also been urged to offer all parents applying for a secondary place “at least one additional preference”, but the government said it recognises some contracts with companies providing co ordination software may not permit such changes.

The guidance however is only advisory and will not “prescribe a single course of action”. This will be for admission authorities to decide.

As well as selective schools, the guidance covers schools which use fair banding and those that select up to 10 per cent of their cohort by aptitude in a prescribed subject.

Written tests should continue to be run under exam conditions but schools should follow “stringent health measures”.

Examples include keeping pupils taking a test at school separate from others, avoiding mass pick-up or drop-off times, and running exams in well-ventilated rooms with space between desks.

The guidance says tests may have to be run over a longer period because of social distancing.

For children who cannot attend for reasons related to coronavirus – such as because they are shielding – authorities may have to rearrange tests or allow them to be completed at home.

Authorities across different areas that use the same tests can continue to do so, but they should “work together to ensure … that such approaches can continue so that any complexities for parents are minimised”.

Schools can also consider “lowering the selection test pass mark for children eligible for the pupil premium”, the guidance adds.